Accept and except are two commonly used words in the English language, but they are often confused with one another.
Accept = to agree, receive, or approve.
Example: I accept your invitation.
Except = to exclude or leave out.
Example: Everyone is here except John.
This article will help you finally master the difference between accept and except, so you can avoid common mistakes and use them with confidence.
Definition and Uses of Accept
Accept is always a verb. It means to receive something willingly, to agree with something, or to put up with something. In daily English, it’s often used for offers, gifts, apologies, or conditions.
Common Uses of Accept
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Receive something: He accepts the gift from his mentor.
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Allow or agree with something: They accepted the terms of the contract.
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Endure a situation: They had to accept the poor conditions for the time being.
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Approve or welcome someone: Jean accepted her newborn brother with love.
Related Words
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Acceptance (noun): the act of accepting (e.g., Her acceptance of the award made her proud.)
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Acceptable (adjective): worthy of being accepted (e.g., The plan is acceptable to everyone.)
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Accepted / Accepting (adjectives): e.g., The accepted rules of society.
👉 Quick tip: Accept = to say “yes” to something.
Definition and Uses of Except
Except is a very flexible word. It can function as a preposition, conjunction, or verb. Its main idea is to exclude or mean “but.”
Common Uses of Except
| Part of Speech | Function / Meaning | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|
| Preposition | To exclude something (often with for) | I go swimming every day except Tuesday. |
| Conjunction | To join two ideas; means but or only | I would have gone to the party, except it was too far. |
| Verb | To leave out or exclude (rare) | Dolphins were excepted from the mammal study. |
| Variant | Excepting (preposition/conjunction); old-fashioned and rare | Not common in modern English. |
Related Words
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Exception (noun): something or someone left out (e.g., There’s always an exception to the rule.).
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Take exception (phrase): to object (e.g., I take exception to your remark.).
👉 Quick tip: Except = everything but this.
Comparison Table: Accept vs. Except
| Word | Part of Speech | Core Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accept | Verb | To receive, agree, endure, or approve | She accepted the award with gratitude. |
| Except | Preposition | Exclude something | Everyone was invited except John. |
| Conjunction | But / Only | I’d go with you, except I’m busy. | |
| Verb (rare) | To leave out | This case was excepted from the rule. |
Worksheet: Accept vs. Except
Fill in the blanks with the correct word: accept or except.
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I cannot ______ this gift because it is too expensive.
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Everyone in the class passed the exam ______ Tom.
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She happily ______ the invitation to the wedding.
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I like all kinds of music ______ heavy metal.
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They had to ______ the fact that the train was delayed.
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The museum is open every day ______ Monday.
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He did not want to ______ responsibility for the mistake.
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I would have joined you, ______ I was too tired after work.
Answers and Explanations
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accept
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Correct: I cannot accept this gift because it is too expensive.
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✅ Accept means to receive something willingly. Here it’s about receiving a gift.
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except
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Correct: Everyone in the class passed the exam except Tom.
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✅ Except means excluding someone or something. Tom is not included.
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accept
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Correct: She happily accepted the invitation to the wedding.
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✅ Accept = agree to something offered. She agreed to the invitation.
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except
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Correct: I like all kinds of music except heavy metal.
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✅ Except = “but not.” Heavy metal is the excluded type of music.
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accept
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Correct: They had to accept the fact that the train was delayed.
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✅ Accept can mean to endure or acknowledge a situation. They acknowledge the delay.
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except
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Correct: The museum is open every day except Monday.
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✅ Except = not including. Monday is the only day it is closed.
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accept
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Correct: He did not want to accept responsibility for the mistake.
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✅ Accept here means to take responsibility.
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except
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Correct: I would have joined you, except I was too tired after work.
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✅ Except as a conjunction means “but.” He wanted to join, but being tired stopped him.
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